Comments on: Eco Fabrics of our Lives http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/ The Alternative Consumer provides product reviews, eco news and green info to the next wave of smart consumers. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:47:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: rd http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-82793 rd Mon, 16 Jun 2008 01:32:02 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-82793 Anna, Thanks for stopping by. Regarding your question, "Are there bamboo fabric makers who are adhering to better practices than noted above?" As there aren't any bamboo fabric makers listed, I'm not sure of who exactly would be "better." If you're looking for research and info re bamboo manufacturers, you might check out members of Co-op America's Green Business Directory. Since bamboo is primarily grown in China, it is difficult to track agricultural practices of fabricators. Besides the "pesticides issue" there are also concerns regarding the possible use of solvents in the spinning process and to what degree these toxic emissions may be polluting our air and water. Many different substances and products are tested for toxicity by Oeko Tex Institutes. I'm not sure whether or not bamboo may be one of them, but here's their website address, Oeko-Tex.com Anna,
Thanks for stopping by.
Regarding your question, “Are there bamboo fabric makers who are adhering to better practices than noted above?” As there aren’t any bamboo fabric makers listed, I’m not sure of who exactly would be “better.”

If you’re looking for research and info re bamboo manufacturers, you might check out members of Co-op America’s Green Business Directory.

Since bamboo is primarily grown in China, it is difficult to track agricultural practices of fabricators. Besides the “pesticides issue” there are also concerns regarding the possible use of solvents in the spinning process and to what degree these toxic emissions may be polluting our air and water.

Many different substances and products are tested for toxicity by Oeko Tex Institutes. I’m not sure whether or not bamboo may be one of them, but here’s their website address, Oeko-Tex.com

]]> By: Anna http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-82786 Anna Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:04:14 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-82786 Maureen, This is an amazing reference list of fabric choices. The only one that concerns me is bamboo, believe it or not. I have read that it can be treated with harmful chemicals (sodium hydroxide and/or sulfuric acid) to create the fabric and these chemicals are sometimes put back into the waste stream rather than treated. Are there bamboo fabric makers who are adhering to better practices than noted above? Maureen,

This is an amazing reference list of fabric choices. The only one that concerns me is bamboo, believe it or not. I have read that it can be treated with harmful chemicals (sodium hydroxide and/or sulfuric acid) to create the fabric and these chemicals are sometimes put back into the waste stream rather than treated.

Are there bamboo fabric makers who are adhering to better practices than noted above?

]]> By: rd http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-31194 rd Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:59:43 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-31194 Hi Lois, To my knowledge, there are no harmful emissions from fleece, and it's safe to wear. Maureen Hi Lois,
To my knowledge, there are no harmful emissions from fleece, and it’s safe to wear.
Maureen

]]> By: lois kershaw http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-31133 lois kershaw Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:10:12 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-31133 does fleece give off harmful gases like plastic water bottles? just wondering.is it safe to wear? does fleece give off harmful gases like plastic water bottles? just wondering.is it safe to wear?

]]> By: maureen http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-14114 maureen Tue, 15 May 2007 12:16:43 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-14114 I agree with your concerns about organic cotton, but when compared to conventional cotton, organic is much preferred. I think you made an excellent decision to use hemp, and wish you all the best. I agree with your concerns about organic cotton, but when compared to conventional cotton, organic is much preferred. I think you made an excellent decision to use hemp, and wish you all the best.

]]> By: Jilly Cholmondeley http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-14108 Jilly Cholmondeley Tue, 15 May 2007 08:24:42 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-14108 There is so much happening in the market for sustainable textiles but I have major reservations about classifying organic cotton as one of these. While it may be free of chemicals it is often doing something much worse - drinking vast amounts of water which could usually be put to better use such as food production. It was my concern for this that led me to launch last month my own range of bedlinen made from 100% hemp. It requires much less water and neither pesticides nor herbicides. As demand increases so I hope will the prices decrease! There is so much happening in the market for sustainable textiles but I have major reservations about classifying organic cotton as one of these. While it may be free of chemicals it is often doing something much worse – drinking vast amounts of water which could usually be put to better use such as food production. It was my concern for this that led me to launch last month my own range of bedlinen made from 100% hemp. It requires much less water and neither pesticides nor herbicides. As demand increases so I hope will the prices decrease!

]]> By: Andrea http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/comment-page-1/#comment-14082 Andrea Mon, 14 May 2007 20:34:03 +0000 http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2007/05/14/eco-fabrics-of-our-lives/#comment-14082 These materials all sound really amazing and hopefully more mainstream designers will incorporate them into their items. In the Humane Society of the United States' Cool vs Cruel student fashion competition, students were challenged to create fur-free and eco-friendly fashions. Hopefully these students will go on to become eco and animal friendly designers for life. Visit www.CoolvsCruel.org These materials all sound really amazing and hopefully more mainstream designers will incorporate them into their items. In the Humane Society of the United States’ Cool vs Cruel student fashion competition, students were challenged to create fur-free and eco-friendly fashions. Hopefully these students will go on to become eco and animal friendly designers for life. Visit http://www.CoolvsCruel.org

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